Larry Ellison — the richest man bidding on the Warriors, the man who would be the richest owner in basketball, the man who could write the biggest check tomorrow — may win the Warriors by bringing in partners.

Specifically, existing partners in the team. A group of investors who currently own 20 percent of the team were the other power players in the bidding for the Warriors. Now the two biggest players are on the same side.

That may make a team that is hard to beat. Unlike the Warriors on the court right now. But the fastest way to change the on-the-court results is for a new owner to be brought in, the first step in a reorganization of team management. Don Nelson may get to stay in Hawaii if this moves forward soon.

This may also keep the price of the sale down, below the $400 million owner Chris Cohan had hoped to get. Two of the four remaining bidders — and the two biggest power brokers — are now on the same side. Who is going to come in and bid over them now?